Tufting button attaching device



P 11, 1956 v. P. CARRICK ETAL 2,762,160

TUFTING BUTTON ATTACHING DEVIE Filed Aug. 11, 1955 Virgil P. GarrickWillie w. Freed/e INVENTORS,

2,762,160 TUFTING BUTTON ATTACHING DEVICE Virgil P. Carrick and WillieW. Freedie, High Point, N. C. Application August 11, 1955, Serial No.527,796 Claims. (Cl. 45-138) This invention relates in general to newand useful improvements in upholstering tools, and more specifically toan improved tufting button attaching device.

Tufting buttons are in the form of hollow metal shells having a fabriccoating on one surface thereof. The opposite surface of the tuftingbutton is provided with a central hole through which it is necessary topass a ribbon retaining pin. The ribbon retaining pin is solid and iscarried at one end of a tufting button ribbon. It is necessary that thepin be shoved through the hole on the rear side of the tufting buttonand at the present time,

implements such as screwdrivers are used to force the pin in place.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide animproved tufting button attaching device which is so constructed wherebya tufting ribbon retaining pin, when properly positioned with respect toa tufting button, may be quickly and easily inserted within the tuftingbutton.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tuftingbutton attaching device which includes an elongated barrel having aplunger slidably mounted therein, the barrel being provided with a slotat one end thereof for receiving an end portion of a tufting buttonribbon with the retaining pin thereof disposed within the barrel inalignment with the plunger for ease of insertion in a tufting button.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tuftingbutton attaching device which is in the form of a guide barrel forreceiving a tufting button retaining pin and a plunger for inserting thepin, the attaching device also including a handle mounted on the barrelfor ease of holding the device, and a knob on the plunger for efiectingthe movement of the retaining pin out of the barrel and into a tuftingbutton.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through the tufting buttonattaching device, which is the subject of this invention, and shows atufting button ribbon positioned relative thereto ready for insertioninto a tufting button;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of that end of the attachingdevice in which the retaining pin is inserted and shows the details ofthe slot formed at that end for receiving the tufting button ribbon;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the underside of a tuftingbutton having the ribbon thereof attached thereto, the ribbon having anintermediate portion thereof broken away; and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and showsthe details of the ribbon, the

Patented Sept. 11, 1956 with an opening 18 for receiving a tuftingbutton ribbon 20. The ribbon 20 is secured to the tufting button 10 bymeans of a retaining pin 22 which extends transversely of the ribbon 20at one end thereof. The pin 22 is passed through the opening 18 andretained within the tufting button 10 due to the fact that its length isgreater than the diameter of the opening 18.

In order that the retaining pin 22 may be inserted through the opening18, it is necessary that a relatively great amount of pressure be placedon the pin 22 in an endwise direction. This has heretobefore been donethrough the use of a screwdriver or a similar tool. However, this isawkward and time consuming, as Well as dan' gerous inasmuch as thescrewdriver could slip and cut ones hand in the process.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in particular, it will be seen thatthere is illustrated a tufting button attaching device, which is thesubject of this invention, the attaching device being referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 24. The attaching device 24 includes anelongated barrel 26 which has one end thereof closed by an end wall 28.Positioned within the barrel 26 is a bearing sleeve 30. The bearingsleeve 30 is the same length as the barrel 26.

Slidably mounted within the bearing sleeve 20 for lougitudinalreciprocatory movement is a plunger 32. The plunger 32 includes areduced end portion 34 which en tends through a central opening 36 inthe end wall The extreme outer end of the extension 34 is provided witha knob 38 in order that the plunger 32 may be readily reciprocatedwithin the bearing sleeve Sit.

Extending transversely of the barrel 26 and secured to opposite sidesthereof adjacent the end wall 28, but in spaced relation relativethereto, is a handle 40. The handle 40 is so positioned with respect tothe knob 38, that when the attaching device 24 is gripped in ones hand,the fingers of ones hand may grip around the handle 49 and the thumb orpalm of ones hand may engage the rear surface of the knob 33 toactuatethe plunger 32.

In order that the plunger 32 may be normally retained in a retractedposition, there is provided a coil spring member 42 which is telescopedover the barrel 26 and has one end thereof in engagement with the handle41 The opposite end of the spring member 42 engages a washer 4-4 carriedby the extension 34 in abutment with the knob Referring now to Figure 2in particular, it will be seen This slot 46 opens through an open end 48of the barrel 26 and tapers longitudinally of the barrel 26 and with thesides thereof converging at a point remote from the end 48. This pointis substantially adjacent the end of the plunger 32 when it is in itsretracted position. The bearing sleeve 30 is provided with a slot 59 ofsubstantially the same configuration as the slot 46.

When it is desired to insert a retaining pin 22 through an opening 18 ina tufting button, such as the tufting button 10, the ribbon 24 is passedthrough these-aligned slots 46 and 50 and the retaining pin 22 ispositioned in the barrel 26 in longitudinal alignment with the plunger32.

After the ribbon 20 and the retaining pin 22 have been properlypositioned Within the barrel 26, the attaching device 24 has the openend-l48 of the barrel 26 aligned with the opening 18 in a tufting buttonit). The knob ,38 is then pushed towards the wall 28 and the plunger 32is. advanced through the barrel 26. Plunger .32 forces the retaining pin22 through the opening assume the position illustrated "in Fig. 4. Wheninthis position, the retaining pin 22'is prevented from beingaccidentally pulled through the opening 18.

While it is not a part of this invention, it is pointed out that theribbon 20 is provided at the opposite end thereof with a fitting 52.This fitting 52 is intended for use in conjunction with a special typeof needle whereby the ribbon 20 may be easily positioned to hold thetufting button it) in place.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

i. A tufting button attaching device for attaching a tufting button to aribbon by inserting a ribbon retaining pin through a small opening in atufting button, said tufting button attaching device comprising anelongated barrel, an elongated plunger slidably disposed in saidbarrel,- one end of said plunger extending through one end of saidbarrel, a push knob on said one end of said plunger, an elongated slotin said barrel at the opposite end thereof, said slot extendinglongitudinally of said barrel and opening through said opposite end,whereby a ribbon retaining pin may be positioned in said barrel in.alignment with said plunger with an attached ribbon extending throughsaid slot.

2. A tufting button attaching device for attaching a tufting button to aribbon by inserting a ribbon retaining pin through a small opening in atufting button, said tufting button attaching device comprising anelongated barrel, an elongated plunger slidably disposed in said barrel,one end of said plunger extending through one end of said barrel, a pushknob on said one end of said plunger, an elongated slot in said barrelat the opposite end thereof, said slot extending longitudinally of .saidbarrel and opening through said oppositeend, whereby a ribbon retainingpin may be positioned in said barrel 18 so that it may all suitablemodifications and a ribbon retaining pin may 3. A tufting buttonattaching device for attaching a tufting button to a ribbon by insertinga ribbon retaining pin through a small opening in a tufting button, saidtufting button attaching device comprising an elongated barrel, anelongated plunger slidably disposed in said barrel, one end of saidplunger extending through one end of said barrel, a push knob on saidone end of said plunger, an elongated slot in said barrel at theopposite end thereof, said slot extending longitudinally of said barreland opening through said opposite end, whereby a ribbon retaining pinmay be positioned in said barrel in alignment with said plunger with anattached ribbon extending through said slot, a transverse handle on saidbarrel adjacent said one end of said barrel, a spring member telescopedover said one end of said barrel and bearing against said handle, anopposite end of said spring member engaging said knob to urge saidplunger to a retracted position. a a

4. A tufting button attaching device for attaching .a tutting button toa ribbon by inserting a ribbon retaining pin through a small opening ina tutting button, said tufting button attaching device comprising anelongated barrel, an elongated plunger slidably disposed in said.

barrel, one end of said plunger extending through one end of saidbarrel, a push knob on said one end of said plunger, an elongated slotin said barrel at the opposite end thereof, said slot extendinglongitudinally of said barrel and opening through said opposite end,whereby be positioned in said barrel in alignment with said plunger withan attached ribbon extending through said slot, a bearing sleeve in saidbarrel receiving said plunger, a slot in said bearing sleeve alignedwith said slot in said barrel.

5. A tufting button attaching device for attaching a tufting button to aribbon by inserting a ribbon retaining pin through a small ing buttonattaching device comprising an elongated barrel, an elongated plungerslidably disposed in said barrel, one end of said plunger extendingthrough one end of in alignment with said plunger with an attachedribbon said barrel, a push knob on said one end of said plunger, anelongated slot in said barrel at the opposite end thereof, said slotextending longitudinally of said barrel and opening through saidopposite end, whereby a ribbon retaining pin may be positioned in saidbarrel in alignment with said plunger with an attached ribbon extendingthrough said slot, said slot having sides converging from said oppositeend'of said barrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS1,867,041 Walters July 12, 1932 opening in a tufting button, said tuftM'cRosk'ey Oct. 17, .1939

